Tapping-machine.



J. C. MELOON.

TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.18.1905.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W/TNESSES, -&uwu; & M

J. C. MELOON.

T'APPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 050.111.1905.

1, 177,882. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wmw r J. C. MELOON.

TAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 05c. 18,1905.

1,177,882 Patented Apr. 4,1916.

6' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W 9 awa UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN C. MELOON, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIG-NOR TO GENERAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPANY,- OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

'IAPPING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4', 1916.

Application filed December 18, 1905. Serial No. 292,275,

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be itlmown that I, JONATHAN G. MELOON, of the city and countyof Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tapwork done by machines heretofore in use.

To that end the invention consists primarily in the combination of a series of tapping mechanisms, a main driving shaft for operating all of said tapping mechanisms,

and independent connecting mechanism between said driving shaft and each of said tapping mechanisms whereby each set of taps may be operated other set or sets.

A further feature of invention consists in providing each of said independent connecting mechanisms with means for reversing the direction of rotation of the tapping mechanism or devices, whereby each set of taps may be reversed independent of the other set or sets.

A further 'featureof' invention consists in providing each of said independent connecting mechanisms with means for changing the speed of the tapping mechanism, whereby the speed of each set of tape may be changed independent of the other set or sets.

A further feature of invention consists in providing each of said independent connecting mechanisms with means whereby the direction of rotation of the tapping mechanism may be automatically reversed, and

also if desired with means whereby the rotation of said tapping mechanism may be automatically stopped. I

The invention also comprises certain fea-v tures ofconstructio-n which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to. the drawings, Figure 1 is a independent of the front view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a central vertical section; Fig". 3 is a horizontal section through one of the tapping mechanisms of the machine.

The machine shown in the drawings comprises three tapping mechanisms arranged one above the other, each tapping mechanism embodying three tapsa'dapted to tap simultaneously the three openings of a T-fitting. Preferably each tapping mechanism is mounted in a separate frame, the three frames A A A being bolted together, as shown, and'the lower frame A a being bolted to the supporting frame or standard A. The three tapping mechanisms are operated, preferably by chain drives, from a single main driving shaft 1 mounted in the standard A. A second shaft 2 is mounted in said standard parallel, with the.

shaft 1 to which it is geared by the gears 3, 3, and so that said shaft 2 will be rotated in a direction reverse to that of shaft 1. The main driving shaft 1 may be driven in any desired manner, being shown as provided with a driving pulley 4 actuated by the belt 5. v

The shaft 1 is provided with three sprocket wheels 6, for actuating the driving chains 7, one for driving each of the three tapping mechanisms, andthe shaft 2 is provided with three sprocket wheels 1 8 for driving the chains 9, each of which is likewise connected with one of the tapping mechanisms.

a Except for the necessarily diflerent 100a tion of the sprocket Wheels, resulting from r the arrangement of the driving chains, each of the tapping mechanisms is a duplicate of the other, and a description of Onaof-said tapping mechanisms will therefore be sufficient.

Referring to Fig. 3, 10 is a shaft mounted in the frame, upon which shaft are loosely mounted the two sprocket wheels 11 and 12, the sprocket wheel 11 being driven by one of the chains 7 and the sprocketwheel 12 being driven by one of the chains 9. When the sprocket wheel 11 is connected to the shaft, said shaft will be rotated in one direction, and when the sprocket wheel 12 is connected to the shaft said shaft will be rotated in the opposite direction.

Any desired form of shifting clutch, mechanism may be employed for alternately conclutch mechanism isshown, comprising two ping mechanism clutch members 13, 13, one connected to each of the sprocket wheels, and mounted on the shaft between these two clutch memhers is a shifting clutch member 14, said shifting clutch member being connected to the shaft 10 by a groove and spline connection, so as to be rotated with the shaft, but so as to be capable of lengthwise movement thereon. A second shaft 15 is mounted in the frame of the section parallel with the shaft ,10, the two shafts being connected by change gears 16, which change gears may be removed and other gears substituted to change the speed of the shaft 15. Each tapembodies three tapspindles, two of which, 17 and 18, are arrangedin line with each other, the third spindle 19 being at right angles to the other two, as shown in Fig. 3.

The three spindles are all driven from the shaft'15 in the following manner: Secured to said shaft,15 is a worm 20 which meshes witha worm wheel 21 onthe spindle 19. Also secured to said shaft are two bevel gears 22, 23, the-bevel gear 22 meshing with a corresponding bevel gear 24 on the shaft 25, on. which said shaft is a worm 26 which meshes with a worm'wheel 27 on the spindle 17. The bevel gear 23 meshes with a corresponding bevel gear 28 on the shaft 29 and on this shaft is mounted a worm 30 which engages the worm wheel 30 on the spindle 18. Preferably each of the worm wheels is located in a pocket, as shown in the drawings, which pocket forms a receptacle for oil in which the worm and worm wheel run. By this construction all three of the spindles are simultaneously driven and at the same speed.

Keyed on the outer end of each spindle is a removable threaded sleeve 31 which constitutes a lead screw for the spindle. The inner end of said sleeve 31 abuts against a I shoulder formed on -the spindle, and said the spindle in the operation of the tap.

Each of the spindles 17 and'18 is also provided with means whereby the spindle may be adjusted toward or from the work.

Surrounding the removable sleeve 31 is an adjusting sleeve or nut 33 which is interiorly screw-threaded on its inner end to engage the scre'w"threads on the sleeve 31,

and is also exteriorly screw-threaded but with a different pitch to engage a corresponding thread formed in the boss 34 on the frame. Said adjusting sleeve 33 may be provided with one or more projecting handles for turning the same. Mounted on said sleeve is a lock-nut 35 for locking the adshifting the shifting clutch to reverse the direction of rotation of the spindles, two means are shown in the drawings for shiftmg said clutch, one means for shifting said clutch by hand and the other for shifting said clutch automatically, the automatic means shown being adapted to be operated by compressed air.

- Mounted in suitable bearings in the frame is a rock shaft 36 which is provided at its forward end with an operating handle 37. Near the rear end of said shaft is a projecting arm 38 provided with a fork 39 which engages a groove in the .shifting clutch member 14. By moving the operating handle in one direction or the other the shaft 36 is thereby shifted. The operating handle is so arranged on the rock-shaft that when said handle stands in a vertical position, as

shown in the upper section in Fig. 1, the" clutch member will be in mid-position and disengaged from both of the sprocket wheels.

When said operating handle is moved to the right and'into the position shown in the second section in said figure, the shifting clutch will be engaged with the clutch member secured to the sprocket wheel 12, and when the operating handle is moved in the opposite direction and into the position shown in the third section in Fig. 1, the shifting.

clutch member will be moved into engage ment with the clutch member secured to the sprocket wheel 11..

The arrangement for automatically shifting the clutch member 14 is as follows: Secured to av suitable bracket 40 mounted on the frame is a cylinder 41 containing a piston adapted to be operated by compressed air, said piston being provided with a pistonrod 42. lMounted in a bracket 43 also secured to the frame is another rod 44 in line with the piston rod. This rod 44 isturned down ,to provide two annular shoulders 45, 46, separated from each other at the proper disthe rear end of the rock shaft 36 is an arm provided with a fork 47 at its upper end which straddles the rod 44 between the two.

annular shoulders 45, 46. The cylinder 41 is provided with suitable valves controlling,

the ports for the admission and exhaust of the compressed air from said cylinder, and these valves are adapted to be operated by means of a swinging lever 48 pivoted to the cylinder at one end and with its free end lo- .cated between and in line with the projecting valve stems 49, 50, said valve stems being connected with the controlling valves. On the-outer screw-threaded end of the spindle 19 are located two nuts 51, 52, which nuts are adapted, as the spindle is caused to travel in one direction or the other, to strike the pivoted lever 48 and swing said lever first in one direction and then in the other, the position of said nuts on the spindle being adjusted so as to swing said lever and thus automatically shift the clutch-member 14 at the proper times. Thus, supposing the spin dles to be advancing as the spindle 19 approaches the limit of its inward movement the nut 51 will strike the pivoted lever 48 and throw it over so as to push in the valvestem 50 and open the controlling valve connected therewith, whereby the piston will be actuated in a direction to shift the clutch member 14 out of engagement with the clutch member 13 and into engagement with the clutch-member 13, thereby causing the spindles to be rotated in the opposite direction and in a direction to retract the same.

If desired,.when the spindles have been retracted they may be again automatically reversed and caused to advance.

In order to give time for the operator to remove one fitting and put in another, it is preferred to stop the spindles after they have'been retracted, and inthe arrangement shown in the drawings this is done automatically, the stopping of the spindles being provided for by the lost motion furnished by the space between the two annular shoulders 45, '46, engaged by the fork 47 on the rear end of the rock shaft 36. Thus, as,

shown in Fig. 3, in which the parts are represented in the position which they occupy after the piston has been operated by the retracting movement of the spindle, it will be seen that the fork 47 on the rock shaft has been moved-only to a "ertical position, and

so as to bring-the shifting clutch member into mid-position and out of engagement.

with bothof the sprocket wheels. When the operator has removed the fitting and put in another, he starts up the tapping mechanism by hand by throwing the operating handle of the rock shaft in the proper direction to en gage the clutch member 13.

I The piping for conducting the compressed air to the cylinder 41 is shown in Fig. 2 and need not be described in detail.

Referring next to the means for holding the fitting while it is being tapped, such means comprises two jaws, one fixed and the other movable, arranged to clamp the fitting on opposite sides. The stationary jaw 53 in the form shown in the drawings is provided with a short downward circular projection 54 constructed to fit a corresponding hole or socket in the frame, by means of which projection the lower jaw is properly located with relation to the spindle. A dowel pin 55 is provided to prevent the lower jaw from turning in its socket. The movable jaw 56 is' secured to a bar 57 adapted to slide in guide ways 58, and so that the movable jaw may be moved to a position over the fitting V or be moved away from the fitting to permit the removal thereof. The rear end of this sliding bar is provided with a stop 59 arranged to engage the frame or some other suitable abutment, whereby the forward movement of the movable jaw is limited, said stop being so located that when said stop abuts against the frame the movable jaw will have been brought to the roper position above the fitting. The gui e-ways -58 serve to properly guide the bar 57 and the movable jaw 56 as the j aw is moved from one position to the other.

When the movable jaw has been brought to the proper position above the fitting it is forced against the fitting to clamp the same by an adjusting screw 60 which-takes into a nut 61; said screw being provided .tion of this clamp screw so that it may be member 14 with the clutch brought into different positions as may be 7 required with the different styles or kinds of fittings to be tapped and theform of movable jaw suitable therefor. For the purpose of adjusting the position of said clamp screw the nut 61 is adjustably secured to the frame by means of a clampbolt 63 passing through an elongated slot 64 in a flange projecting from .said 'nut. The flange on the opposite side of the nut i engaged'by the head of a hook bolt 65 which may be turned to releasethenut and permit it to be changed in position. Thus the nut and screw may be moved bodily laterally within the range of the slot in the flange, and may also be turned about theclamp bolt 63-as a center. By thisrneans the clamp screw for the movable jawmay be brought to any desired position. As will be understood, each'pair of 4 jaws,'the fixed jaw and the movable jaw,is

made of the proper form and size for a given fitting, and the jaws are changed when a different slzed fitting is to be tapped.

The operation of the mechanism above described will' be readily understood. As-- ting, which may be assumed to be a T-fit-- ting, in position on the lower jaw, then pulls the upper jaw forward in proper position above the fitting, and by turning the handwheel 62 forces 'the clamp-screw 61 downward and so as to securely clamp the fitting between the two jaws. The operator then throws the operating handle 37 from its upright or mid-position to the left, thereby throwing the shifting clutch member 14 into engagement with the clutch member 13 and so that theshaft 10 will be rotated in the proper direction to advance the spindles to causethe taps to engage and act upon the fitting. When this has been done the operator next places a fitting in position to be operated upon by one of the other tapping mechanlsms, clamps it in position, and starts up the tapping mechanism, and thereafter proceeds in the same manner with the third tapping mechanism. By the time he has started up the third tapping mechanism the fitting first placed in position will have been tapped and'be ready to be removed from the machine, the tap spindles continuing to advance until the nut 51 on the spindle 19 engagesthe swinging lever 48, thereby causing the direction of rotation of the spindles to be reversed and the spindles retracted until the taps have cleared the fitting, when the nut 52 will swing the pivoted lever in the opposite direction, thereby causing the shifting clutch member 14 to be moved into mid-position and the tapping mechanism to be stopped. The operator then removes the finished fitting and places another in position. Thus with a series of three tapping mechanisms in the machine, one set of taps may be advancing to do their work, another set may be at the same time retracting, while the third set may he at rest while the oper ator is placing a fitting in position, or as the spindles may be retracted at a greater speed than they are advanced, the machine may be so organized that two sets of taps I may be advancing at the same time, one set of taps completing its advancing movement while the next set of taps is commencing to advance. In either case the tapping mechanisms are organized so as to break joints, as it were, and thus prevent practically any lost time, one set of taps being practically always operating upon a fitting. If desired the number of tapping mechanisms may be either less than three or more than three,

but I find the employment of three tapping mecham'smsto be preferable, as thereby the fittings are tapped as rapidly as one operator can remove the finished fittings and place the'blanks in position.

As will be seen, all of the tapping mechanisms are operated from a ingle driving shaft, but the connecting mec anisms which connect the driving, shaft with the several tapping mechanisms, are each independent of'the other, and thus each set of taps is operated independent of the other set or sets. I It will also be seen that-each tapping mechanism may be reversed independent of the others and so that each tapping mechanism may be reversed at the desired time and without reference to whether the spindles of the other tapping mechanisms are advancing or retracting or are at rest. It will be further seen that by changing the change gears of one tapping mechanism such tapping mechanism may be operated at a different speed from the others and so that one tapping mechanism may be operating upon a fitting of one size and requiring a certain speed for the taps, while the other tapping mechanisms may be operating upon fittings of another size and requiring a diiferent speed for the taps.

While I have shown change gears as the means for changing the speeds of the tap ping mechanisms, it will be understood that any other form of speed changing mechanism may be employed for the purpose.

It will be noted that in the machine shown in the drawings the spindles of each tapping mechanism will be advanced to tap the fitting, and when the operation has been completed the spindles will be automati cally retracted and when retracted the operation of the spindles will be automatically stopped to permit the removal of the fitting and the insertion ofanother, leaving nothing for the operator to do but to start up the tapping mechanism when the next fitting has been clamped in place. While this construction and arrangement are preferred, the starting, reversing and stopping of the spindles may, if desired, be performed by hand, so far as the main features of the invention are concerned, and so also if desired the spindles might be automatically advanced immediately upon the completion of their retracting movement, if sufficient time were provided in some wav for the operator to remove the finished fitting and replace it with another.

While the means shown for automatically reversing and stopping the spindles are constructed to be operated by compressed air, any other suitable means may be employed for thus automatically controlling the movements of the spindles.

It is preferred to locate the several tapping mechanisms one above the other as 1 shown,-as this afiords the most convenient arrangement for the operator and enables him to place and remove fittings in each of the tapping mechanisms without changing his position, but if desired the several tapping mechanisms may be otherwise arranged.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tapping machine having in combination ,a series of tap-spindles, means for advancing and retracting said spindles, means actuated by the advancing movement of one of said spindles for automatically reversing said spindles when they have completed their advancing movement and means for automatically stopping said spindles when they have completed their retracting movement.

2. A tapping machine having in combination a seriesof tap-spindles, means for re-. versing the direction of rotation of mid spindles, a piston for operating said reversing means, valves for controlling the movements of said piston, and means actuated by one of the spindles for operating said valves. 1

3. The combination with a tap-spindle provided with a lead-screw, of a nut for said lead-screw, said nut being screwthreadedin the frame, means for turning said nut, and a lock-nut for locking said lead-screw nut, whereby said lead-screw nut engage said lead-screw and with an exterior screw-thread of difi'erent pitch to engage the frame, whereby said nut acts both as a nut for the lead-screw and as an adjusting nut to adjust the position of the spindle.

JONATHAN C. MELOON. Witnesses:

W. H. THURSTON, J. H. THURSTON. 

